Although a number of critics dismissed the heavy metal assault of Grand Funk Railroad, legions of fans filled stadiums to hear them. The band defied the early 1970s trend toward keyboards, complex arrangements, and poetic lyrics, opting for straightforward rock 'n' roll. "Bypassing the ruling elite of 'progressive' rock's tastemakers and scene-dwellers," wrote Lenny Kaye of The Marshall Cavendish Illustrated History of Popular Music, "they took their music directly to the concert stages of all 50 United States...." While it took the Beatles three weeks to sell out Shea Stadium, Grand Funk accomplished the same feat in three days. Despite management upheavals and the derision of critics, Grand Funk Railroad became one of the most popular bands of the 1970s.

Early in 1969 drummer Don Brewer, bassist Mel Schacher, and singer/guitarist Mark Farner contemplated their future as a band. Known as the Fabulous Pack, the Michigan-based group found itself stranded in Massachusetts one winter with no prospects in sight. They were considering selling their instruments when former bandmate, Terry Knight, entered the picture. Knight had been a deejay and had played in a number of bands with only moderate success. He made the group an offer: he would manage them if they would agree to follow all of his instructions. "With no other prospects," noted Kaye, "the soon-to-be Grand Funk Railroad signed on."

At first Grand Funk Railroad, named after the famous Grand Trunk railroad line, failed to find a footing. Knight borrowed $500 so the band could record "Heartbreaker" and "High on a Horse," but record labels showed little interest in the group. Their breakthrough came when Knight arranged a free performance at the Atlanta Pop Festival in July of 1969. "The first Atlanta Pop Festival is the most memorable experience in Grand Funk for me...," Farner told Billy James in An American Band: The Story of Grand Funk Railroad, "the first time around 200,000 people got a look at the group and showed appreciation like that." A warm reception and standing ovation by the crowd led to the band being signed by Capitol Records.

In the studio, Grand Funk Railroad recorded their debut album On Time in the summer of 1969, featuring songs like "Are You Ready" and "Into the Sun." Reviewers were unimpressed, however. "On Time received a unanimous thumbs-down from the rock 'n' roll press," wrote James, "and achieved little or no airplay." Despite this, by November the album had reached number 27 on the charts. Grand Funk Railroad opened shows for Led Zeppelin in Detroit and Cleveland during the summer and played before 120,000 at the Texas International Pop Festival. Everywhere they traveled, the group from Flint, Michigan, dubbed "the people's band," received an enthusiastic response.

The band released Grand Funk at the end of 1969 and on January 9, 1970, kicked off their first American tour. They performed between 18 and 22 days per month throughout that year, delivering their brand of hard rock through a 4,000-watt system to as many as 30,000 fans per concert. There was little surprise, then, when Grand Funk reached number eleven on the charts in March of 1970. In June the group spent $100,000 to buy billboard space in Times Square to announce the upcoming release of Closer to Home.It ultimately reached number six on the charts and was the third Grand Funk Railroad album to be certified gold.

Grand Funk Railroad's battle with the rock press continued. In May of 1971, 150 reporters were invited to a press conference announcing tour dates at Shea Stadium and in Japan. Only six attended. "To [the press] it was all hype," wrote James, "and in their opinion nothing important enough to write about or report on." It was ironic, then, that 1971 proved the band's most successful year to date with earnings of $5 million and a sold-out European tour. Quite fittingly, their next album, E Pluribus Funk, was shaped to look like a coin.

In 1972 the band attempted to gain its independence by firing manager Knight. "Tired of seeing themselves described as non-musical puppets," wrote Kaye, "aware of the trust and loyalty of their fans, they sued for divorce in March 1972." A lengthy court battle ensued. Knight believed he owned the rights to the band's name and that Grand Funk Railroad owed him a million dollars. He issued liens and injunctions against the band, and even had their equipment seized after a free show in New York. When the smoke cleared, the band bought out Knight' s interest, shortened its name to Grand Funk, and went back on the road after a nine-month hiatus.

In 1973 the band rose above the controversies when Todd Rundgren produced We're an American Band.The title song chronicles the adventure of a rock 'n' roll band not unlike Grand Funk Railroad, complete with parties, groupies, and hotel-room destruction. The band lived up to that image at a posh awards ceremony at the Beverly Hills Hotel. When presented with a multitiered cake topped with Uncle Sam (for "We're an American Band"), pandemonium ensued. "[J]ust as we were cutting it with this massive knife," Farner told Rolling Stone, "somebody yelled 'Food fight!,' and we dove into that cake and started slinging it." The press joined in, and after the frosting was cleaned from the chandeliers and velvet curtains, the damage totaled $14,000.

After topping the charts with "Locomotion" and "Some Kind of Wonderful" in the mid-1970s, and recording Good Singin', Good Playin'with Frank Zappa in 1976, the band decided to call it quits. "[B]ack when Grand Funk first broke up," Farner recalled to Charles Gibson of ABC's Good Morning America, "we didn't want to bow our knees to the god of disco. So we just kind of bowed out of it." The band re-formed in the early 1980s and recorded Grand Funk Livesand What's Funk? In 1996 the original members played 14 dates, then toured throughout 1997 and 1998, making appearances for the benefit of the Bosnian Relief Fund. "We will continue," Brewer told Andy Kehe of the Bakersfield Californian, "as long as audiences want us and its (sic) viable to go out and do what we love to do."

by Ronald D. Lankford Jr

Grand Funk Railroad's Career

Group formed in Flint, MI, 1969; received attention for a free performance at the Atlanta Pop Festival, 1969; signed recording contract with Capitol Records; released eight albums between 1969-72, including Grand Funk and Closer to Home, 1970, and E Pluribus Funk,1971; sold out Shea Stadium in 72 hours, July 1971; recorded We're an American Band with producer Todd Rundgren, 1973; charted with a new version Little Eva's hit, "Locomotion," 1974, and with "Some Kind of Wonderful," 1975; group disbanded, 1977; re-formed in 1981, 1997.

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Tell me thats not true. Mark isnt joining the other guys on tour... Man im going to go see them at the fair this year in Turlock.... Id love to meet them...Well guess ill have to stalk the drummer....lol

about 10 years ago

I need lyrics and chords to:
Rock and Roll American Style
Still Waitin'
El Savadore
On the What's Funk Album.

over 10 years ago

I am sorry to hear that Mark Farner is NOT joining with the band now to tour. I really feel he and the other two blended so greatly. Love his guitar playing.

over 10 years ago

Would like to alert you guys to a super new song / music video by a former member of the hit 70's band
Grand Funk Railroad.
His name is Mark Farner and he's got this cool song and video.
Check it out !
If I Was the President
I found the video at this site:
http://spivideo.com/poa2

over 11 years ago

I was heavy into the powerful bass licks coming from the West amplifiers. Can they be purchased from the manufactorer?